Roof module for a motor vehicle body

ABSTRACT

A roof module for a motor vehicle body ( 3 ) includes a reinforcing frame ( 2 ) and a roof panel ( 1 ) that is fastened thereto. The reinforcing frame ( 2 ) can be fastened to the motor vehicle body ( 3 ) by screw connections ( 8 ) and adhesive bonds ( 5 ). A roof module, which is both prefabricated with all accessories as well as painted and which can be placed onto the motor vehicle body ( 3 ) during final assembly is provided with the reinforcing frame ( 2 ) or the roof panel ( 1 ) having, on the edge thereof, a folded flange ( 11 ), which is shaped so that it has a U-shaped profile ( 12 ). An edge strip ( 10, 13 ) of the roof panel ( 1 ) or of the reinforcing frame ( 2 ) engages inside the U-shaped profile ( 12 ) and is bonded therein to the reinforcing frame ( 2 ) or to the roof panel ( 1 ). The roof module is larger in a vertical projection than a roof opening in the motor vehicle body ( 3 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a United States National Phase application ofInternational Application PCT/EP2003/001818 and claims the benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Application DE 102 51 175.6filed Oct. 31, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a roof module for a motor vehicle bodycomprising a reinforcing frame and a roof panel that is fastenedthereto, wherein said reinforcing frame can be fastened to the motorvehicle body by means of screw connections and adhesive bonds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roof modules for motor vehicle bodies are known in different versions. Aprior art version (DE 198 53 820 A1) is introduced as a prefabricatedcomponent, which various accessories are mounted to, through the frontwindow opening into the car body and placed from inside against the roofopening and fastened there. The completion of the car body interior isperformed subsequently, with it being required to temporarily hang-outmotor vehicle body side doors possibly installed already before.

In another version (DE 100 48 130 A1) the roof module features foldableedge strips that are transfolded to be able to introduce the roof modulethrough a roof opening into the motor vehicle body. Subsequently theedge strips are unfolded again and the roof module is placed from insideagainst the motor vehicle body and fastened there. All this is toocostly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Now, therefore, it is the task of the present invention to provide aprefabricated and lacquered roof module equipped with all accessoriesthat can be put onto the motor vehicle body during final assembly.

This task is solved by a roof module of the species describedhereinabove in that the reinforcing frame or roof panel at its edge hasa folded flange shaped to a U section, and that an edge strip of theroof panel or reinforcing frame engages into the U section and is bondedthere to the reinforcing frame or roof panel, and that the roof modulein a vertical projection is greater than a roof opening in the motorvehicle body. The roof panel and the reinforcing frame may be comprisedof pretreated and prelacquered metal sheets (coil coating) so that thesupplier needs no lacquer coating units. Furthermore, the roof modulemay be provided with all the desired accessories both inside andoutside. The roof module is not put on in a raw construction state, i.e.before the motor vehicle body is lacquered, but only during finalassembly onto an appropriately modified motor vehicle body. Therelatively large roof opening, too, facilitates thus the assembly of theinterior outfit of the motor vehicle body and of the instrumentationpanel, and the usual temporary disassembly of side doors, if any, may bedispensed with.

It is reconmmendable to seal an external joint between the folded flangeand the roof panel.

Additional covering and cladding elements are not required, if theproposed procedure is observed.

The U section may have a support for the front window outside in thearea of a front window. In this connection, the roof panel may beprovided with a step in the area of the front window, whose heightroughly corresponds to the thickness of the front window.

Furthermore, the U section may have a support in the door area for theside windows and/or a window pane seal co-acting with the side windows.In this connection, the roof panel in the door area may preferably havea step, whose height roughly corresponds to the thickness of the sidewindow and/or window pane seal.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a roof panel and of a reinforcing framenot yet connected to it;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view in the area of a front window of aroof module connected to a motor vehicle body;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the object according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a corresponding vertical sectional view in the door area;

FIG. 5 is a corresponding vertical sectional view in the area of a rearflap;

FIG. 6 is a corresponding vertical sectional view in the door area withanother embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in particular, a roof panel 1 and areinforcing frame 2 belong to the depicted roof module (FIG. 1).

In FIGS. 2 to 6, the same reference symbols designate the same parts.The reinforcing frame 2 or the roof panel 1 have a circumferential edgestrip 10 and/or 13, as well as a folded flange 11 connected thereto. Thefolded flange 11 is transfolded over the edge strip 10 and/or 13 andtogether they form a U section 12. An edge strip 10 and/or 13 of theroof panel 1 and/or reinforcing frame 2 engage into the U-section 12which is bonded with the edge strip 10 and/or 13 via a structuralbonding. The external joint between folded flange 11 and edge strip 10and/or 13 of roof panel 1 or reinforcing frame 2 is sealed with asealing 6 to provide protection from corrosion. A shaped step 4 of roofpanel 1 connects to edge strip 13, so that a support 14 connected toshaped step 4 is mainly flush to the transfolded folded flange 11.

The roof module is fastened in a usual manner with adhesive bonds 5 andscrew connections 8 to the motor vehicle body 3.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 depict the roof module fastened to the motor vehiclebody 3 in the area of the front window. Roof panel 1 and reinforcingframe 2 are supported against each other via an adhesive bond 9 at somedistance from the edge area. In connection to support 14, roof panel 1has a step 15, whose height roughly corresponds to the thickness of anon-depicted front window, so that roof panel 1 is mainly flush outsideto a front window fastened at the edge side on support 14.

FIG. 4 shows a vertical section through the roof module in the doorarea, which is connected to the motor vehicle body 3. Here, too, theedge strip 13 of roof panel 1 passes via a shaped step into a support16, which step 17 is connected to. Support 16 is provided for anon-depicted side door window and/or the pertaining window pane seal.Step 17 has a height that roughly corresponds to the thickness of theside door window pane and/or window pane seal.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of roof panel 1 in the area of anon-depicted rear flap, with the step in the roof panel being dispensedwith.

FIG. 6 shows a vertical section through the roof module in the door areaconnected to motor vehicle body 3. Here, the edge of roof panel 1 isfolded over the edge strip of reinforcing frame 2.

By way of the measures described hereinabove, the connection of roofpanel 1 to the reinforcing frame 2 is made invisible and/or sealed inall areas.

The roof module can be put onto and fastened to the motor vehicle body 3in the course of final assembly, after the interior outfit has beenintroduced through the existing large roof opening into an appropriatelymodified motor vehicle body and installed there.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

1. A roof module for a motor vehicle body comprising a reinforcing frameand a roof panel fastened thereto, said reinforcing frame being fastenedto the motor vehicle body by means of screw connections and adhesivebonds, said reinforcing frame or said roof panel having a folded flangeat an edge shaped to a U section, and an edge strip of the roof panel orreinforcing frame engages into said U section and is bonded there to thereinforcing frame or roof panel, and that said roof panel in a verticalprojection is greater than a roof opening in the motor vehicle body. 2.A roof module pursuant to claim 1, wherein an external joint between thefolded flange and the roof panel is sealed.
 3. A roof module pursuant toclaim 1, wherein said U section in the area of a front window at theoutside has a support for the front window.
 4. A roof module pursuant toclaim 3, wherein said roof panel in the area of the front window has astep, whose height roughly corresponds to the thickness of the frontwindow.
 5. A roof module pursuant to claim 1, wherein said U section inthe door area at the outside has a support for the side window and/orside window pane seal.
 6. A roof module pursuant to claim 5, whereinsaid roof panel in the door area has a step, whose height roughlycorresponds to the thickness of the side window and/or side window paneseal.
 7. A roof module pursuant to claim 1, wherein said roof paneland/or reinforcing frame are comprised of pretreated and/or prelacqueredmetal sheets.
 8. A roof module for assembly with a motor vehicle bodyhaving than a roof opening, the roof module comprising: a reinforcingframe a roof panel fastened to said reinforcing frame, said reinforcingframe being fastenable to the motor vehicle body by means of one or moreof screw connections and adhesive bonds, one of said reinforcing frameand said roof panel having a folded flange at an edge of a U section andone of said reinforcing frame and said roof panel having an edge stripengaging into said U section and bonded to the other of said reinforcingframe and said roof panel, said roof panel in a vertical projectionbeing greater than the roof opening.
 9. A roof module pursuant to claim8, wherein an external joint is formed between said folded flange andsaid roof panel and is sealed.
 10. A roof module pursuant to claim 8,wherein said U section in the area of a front window at the outside hasa support for the front window.
 11. A roof module pursuant to claim 10,wherein said roof panel in an area of a front window has a step, whoseheight roughly corresponds to the thickness of the front window.
 12. Aroof module pursuant to claim 8, wherein said U section in a door areaat the outside has a support for the side window and/or side window paneseal.
 13. A roof module pursuant to claim 5, wherein said roof panel inthe door area has a step, whose height roughly corresponds to thethickness of the side window and/or side window pane seal.
 14. A roofmodule pursuant to claim 8, wherein said roof panel and/or reinforcingframe are comprised of pretreated and/or prelacquered metal sheets.